Your senses, intellect, and relationship to time are each intrinsically linked to your well-being.
Discerning ‘what is what’ when it comes to the choices that grant access to a sense of ease vs. those that lead towards dis-ease (lack of ease) is no big mystery when all is well. Yet, when all is not well, we find ourselves in fragile territory.
When our minds are overwhelmed by ignorance, we disconnect from the quiet wisdom of our inner guidance. This lack of clarity has adverse effects. Not only do we experience mental turbulence in the form of anxiety, anger, or depression, but we also place ourselves in a groove that justifies continuing to make disruptive choices. Eventually, physical health begins to falter as well.
What to do?
For a solid answer to this question, here is a quote from a most revered Ayurvedic text, Charaka Samhita, written sometime between 1500 and 500 BCE.
“Balanced utilization [ of time, mental faculties, and the objects of sense organs ] is the cause of happiness (i.e., positive health).” Charaka Samhita
One by one, I’ll walk you through what, according to this great ancient wisdom, are the three antidotes to Disease.
The Misuse of the Senses
Tempting is that glass of whiskey (or fill in the blank). Involving is the noise of drama. Captivating is the sight of violence. Penetrating is a foul odor. Repulsive is a manipulative touch.
As wired as we may be to indulge in and be negatively impacted by our senses, even more natural than this is to be supported by them. To the degree that we become more aware of our senses, we gain insight into how to relate to them more harmoniously.
The Sanskrit word for this one of the three disease causes is Asatmendriyartha Samyoga. Astmaya means improper, Indriya means sense organs, artha means the objects of the senses, and samyoga means to combine.
The antidote?
“Balanced utilization [ the objects of sense organs ] is the cause of happiness (i.e., positive health).” Charaka Samhita
How?
Begin by observing your current relationship to your five organs of perception: the ear, skin, eye, tongue, and nose. Next, establish simple and practical tools to help nurture each of your senses.
Failure of The Intellect
Our intellect, this “device” we use to make our choices, is often conflicted. On one end, hearing the screaming noise of Ahankara, the voice of Ego, and fully invested in the illusion that we are separate from the whole. On the other end, hearing the whispering sounds of Atman, the voice of our Soul, it is intimately connected to our inner guidance. So sneaky is the noise of the Ego that even though we may catch a glimpse of the fact that we are making a disharmonious choice, we may persist in doing so.
The Sanskrit word for this one of the three disease causes is Prajnaparadha. Prajna means intellect, and apradha implies failure.
The antidote?
“Balanced utilization [ of mental faculties ] is the cause of happiness (i.e., positive health).” Charaka Samhita
How?
Gently, free from judgment, and regularly, bring your ears to your heart. Yes, tilt in a little and listen closely for that whispering sound. Whether you catch yourself distracted, tense, or depressed, do your best to observe, without judgment, the instructions for greater ease and well-being that this wise inner voice is sending your way.
Time and Motion
There is one place where time does not move — it’s in the — NOW.
Everything outside of the present is moving.
Time is a measure of Motion! This is one of Nature’s Laws!
There is ‘Chronological Time’ — 365 days from now; if all goes well, we will be a year older. There is also Psychological Time — the faster we move in our mind (worry, resistance, anxiety), the quicker we age!
In 2017, researchers won the Nobel Prize for their findings on something that the Ayurveda clock has been showing for thousands of years: Being in sync with nature’s circadian rhythms supports our health. Our modern science’s findings are timely because although ‘Chronological Time’ is beyond our control, we can influence’ Psychological Time. We can do this in simple ways, such as adjusting our sleep cycles.
The Sanskrit word for this one of the three disease causes is Parinama, which means transformation or change on both a philosophical and practical level.
“Balanced utilization [ of time] is the cause of happiness (i.e., positive health).”Charaka Samhita
How?
To become more discerning of how you are utilizing your time is a good place to start. Consider a routine you are ready to prioritize in your lifestyle to counter the fast-moving mind. Meditation, chanting, or physical postures of yoga are some ways.
Time and Motion
There is one place where time does not move — it’s in the — NOW.
Everything outside of the present is moving.
Time is a measure of Motion! This is one of Nature’s Laws!
There is ‘Chronological Time’ — 365 days from now; if all goes well, we will be a year older. There is also Psychological Time — the faster we move in our mind (worry, resistance, anxiety), the quicker we age!
In 2017, researchers won the Nobel Prize for their findings on something that the Ayurveda clock has been showing for thousands of years: Being in sync with nature’s circadian rhythms supports our health. Our modern science’s findings are timely because although ‘Chronological Time’ is beyond our control, we can influence’ Psychological Time. We can do this in simple ways, such as adjusting our sleep cycles.
The Sanskrit word for this one of the three disease causes is Parinama, which means transformation or change on both a philosophical and practical level.
“Balanced utilization [ of time] is the cause of happiness (i.e., positive health).”Charaka Samhita
How?
To become more discerning of how you are utilizing your time is a good place to start. Consider a routine you are ready to prioritize in your lifestyle to counter the fast-moving mind. Meditation, chanting, or physical postures of yoga are some ways.
Forgetting Our True Nature
At the root of the three triggers for illness is fundamentally one thing:
We forget who we are in essence. Here is where we experience our deepest wounds.
To rescue your mind from distractions and to remember the essence of who you are, Ayurveda invites you to bring more awareness to how you use your senses, intellect, and relationship to time.
In Resonance,
